Stickleback Cinema

For those that don't know sticklebacks are a small fish (minnow) that live in our waters. Per the kyck-a (for the soccer dads out there), PFbC chart, they are endangered species. Not so endangered, that I find one in my minnow bucket after buying bait every 3-4 times. They are really cool looking fish, with spike type dorsal fins.
The reason I posted, last weekend, I took the kids out and bought 4 doz minnows, but got about 2 hours of fishing in. Figured it was Fall bite, so I'd keep them for next trip.
My set up is Rubbermaid 18 gallons bin, with aerator and filter, which usually does pretty well. Meanwhile kids are asking to put a minnow or two in a cup as s pet... So, as the softy dad, I bought a fish bowl for them. Knowing fish a little, I made sure it was a mini tank (aerator & filter), fish safe liquid, ect. A few days in, minnows were dropping like flies, and their mini tank had ridiculously skinny minnows. I notice the dead ones have some sort of fungal infection, so tosed some fungus tabs in, and all good.
Head out for Saturday fishing trip (4 doz. down to 2 doz.), I notice a fish with a pointy nose. Thinking it was a shiner, I'd take a look. It's a stickleback. Figure, toss it into the tank. Look again, another stickleback. Toss him in. Now have two flatheads and 2 sticklebacks in 1.5 gallons. As I'm messing around, one of the flatheads decides there are too many fish, and dive bombs out of tank. Fine by me, he makes his way into minnow bucket. Now, 2 s-backs and 1 fathead. Sticklebacks make very good small tank creatures, and imagine bad bait. They aren't nearly as spastic as fattys. They use their pectoral fins mostly, until eating, they kind of play dead, then attack like crazy, Fatheads are probably not the best small tank fish, they are high energy very sporadic movers, and can see why fish love to eat them. Sticklebacks seem to mostly move with their pectoral fins, like a lot of good tank fish.
I guess check your buckets. If brown, change your undies. I know some of you doods need a reminder (never trust a fart)... If stickleback, toss in a tank. Fun to watch, and doubt very good bait. Maybe it is a PFBC move to help us reintroduce them by getting them into bait supplies? If so, maybe let them go where you are fishing,

Censored because of the fake I-D-s idiots who were somehow getting around the spam filter protection I think...
Happened on the NY Board also, I tried the word kiddo and it was allowed though.

BTW... enjoyed the read, pretty neat to hear the comparison on the minnows, I think I just thought of all minnows behaving about the same, just differing in sizes. I will look closer at the next batch of minnows.

It was on my iPad after watching my DVRed Stillers game, so had a few beers in me too...
 
Sounds like you got a nice setup.  I may have to break down and buy a real tank.  I'd love to put some small native fish in it.  They are pretty cool to watch.

I have two in a small aquarium with a fat head.  The fat head seems to be the one in control???  The one stickleback just kind of lays around, then darts if he sees me come by to feed.  The other is a complete fish flake hog.  The fat head gets his share of flakes, and has his section of the tank that he chases them off if too close.  I'm guessing if I don't keep up on the feeding that fat head is in trouble...

You build your own aquarium tanks Divemaster?

 So I see your a fisheries..........  WHAT?  Heh heh hehhhhh, welllllll ummmmm good luck with the project!
 

Some people fear height, water, even clowns and, some some people fear invasive exotic (nonnative) species seriously threatening the integrity of PA. rivers, lakes and, forest.   
 
I've seen, over the years, how my little piece of Penn's Woods has changed from the results of a invasive species. 
 
No offense intended; I'm just me being me, and dealing with my phobia.
 
 
On another note, regarding your aquarium project, perhaps you could get some ideas from Wayde King and Brett Raymer of ATM at  www.acrylicaquariums.com/

Glad you took no offense, I've been known to make my feelings known towards the the PFBC and PGC  biologist with regard to their "projects".
 
Personally I'd be happy if both agencies knocked off trying to fool mother nature; especially the trout and deer programs and, just get back to enforcement.
 
Good luck with your project
 
PS.  And leave the dam weeds alone!!!!!

I'm not totally against stocking trout, just stop putting those fish in water where they have absolutely no chance of surviving past a few days. Especially, where other popular species once thrived without the need for a biologist. Then expect people to buy a trout stamp to fish those waters. Just a big scam in my book.

walcat
They do that down here in SW Pa. and it pi*% es me off big time. Talk about wasted money and time! I think that outfit needs a complete makeover from the ground up !!!!!!! TOOOOOOOOOOOO much effort and money on those lousy trout!!!!! { And Steelhead too!} Stock some fish that are good eating, a lot of people might buy fishing licenses then !!!!!! Hint: Create a good walleye,sauger lake in SW pa. Hint hint, hint, Cross Creek Lake.

What we need is a few good musky lakes around Pittsburgh :). They used to stock north park with tiger Muskies and wet socks er I mean walleye (lol) but that was before they drained the lake.

walcat
They do that down here in SW Pa. and it pi*% es me off big time. Talk about wasted money and time! I think that outfit needs a complete makeover from the ground up !!!!!!! TOOOOOOOOOOOO much effort and money on those lousy trout!!!!! { And Steelhead too!} Stock some fish that are good eating, a lot of people might buy fishing licenses then !!!!!! Hint: Create a good walleye,sauger lake in SW pa. Hint hint, hint, Cross Creek Lake.

How many more do you want stocked at Cross Creek? Like carp at Linesville? Geez they are there you gotta catch em
 
Nice about sticklebacks pork I first saw em in smelt net catches at Niagara in NY. Neat to hear how they are in aquarium settings ive done many species in a tank never them though cool read

My spines are bigger than yours lol